Jean Paul Gaultier To Stop RTW Collections

Jean Paul Gaultier is stopping his women's and men's ready-to-wear lines, citing "commercial constraints" and the "frenetic pace of collections" as the reasons why. The designer - and his majority stakeholder, the Spanish fashion group Puig - will continue to produce his haute couture collections, as well as his fragrance and accessories ranges.

"We looked at various possibilities considering the present state of the company and we have reached the same conclusion," the designer said. "For some time, I have found true fulfilment in working on the haute couture and it allows me to express my creativity and my taste for research and experimentation. At the same time the world of ready-to-wear has evolved considerably. Commercial constraints, as well as the frenetic pace of collections don't leave any freedom, nor the necessary time to find fresh ideas and to innovate."

Jean Paul Gaultier

"After more than 38 years spent producing men's and women's ready-to-wear collections, it seems to us that the time has come to stop some of our activities and to concentrate principally on the development of the haute couture, of perfumes and to certain collaborations that I have not yet had time to explore," he continued. "This is a new beginning, I will be able to express again my creativity fully and without constraints."

The decision to shut down the ready-to-wear arm of his business could result in the loss of "several dozen" jobs, reports WWD, although no comment about the restructuring of the label has been made. His last ready-to-wear women's collection will go ahead as planned on Saturday September 27 at Paris Fashion Week.